Wave producing machine,especially for swimming pools

ABSTRACT

A SWIMMING POOL EQUIPPED WITH OSCILLATING BLADE MEANS FOR ACTUATING THE WATER IN THE POOL, IN WHICH SAID BLADE MEANS IS COMPLETELY BELOW THE WATER LEVEL WHEN THE WATER IS AT REST WHILE ACTUATING MEANS ARRANTED OUTSIDE THE SWIMMING POOL ARE DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO SAID BLADE MEANS FOR PIVOTING THE SAME BACK AND FORTH.

Feb. 16, 1971 KQSTER 3,562,823

I WAVE PRODUCING MACHINE, ESPECIALLY FOR SWIMMING POOLS Filed July 9, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1

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f In ventor: FE/ y 715 8A- F. KOSTER 3,562,823

WAVE PRODUCING MACHINE; ESPECIALLY FOR SWIMMING POOLS Feb.16,197 1 Filed July 9. 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnvenior:

Feb. 16, 1971 bsTg 3,562,823

WAVE PRODUCING MACHINE, ESPECIALLY FOR SWIMMING POOLS Ma 1 M5 s, l- W m;

In ventor Te/fir 725 526- United States Patent 01 fice 3,562,823 Patented Feb. 16, 1971 Int. Cl. E6411 3/18 US. Cl. 4172.16 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A swimming pool equipped with oscillating blade means for actuating the water in the pool, in which said blade means is completely below the water level when the water is at rest while actuating means arranged outside the swimming pool are drivingly connected to said blade means for pivoting the same back and forth.

The present invention relates to a wave producing machine, especially oscillating blade equiped wave producing machine which by special means will be able to a major extent to recover the energy produced behind the oscillating blades. Wave producing machines of this type may be employed in particular for producing waves in swimming pools.

It is a well known fact that waves are produced by energy transfer after the water surface has been disturbed. In deep waters, the water particles in a. wave oscillate with a phase displacement on vertical circular paths and with this movement form the progressive wave contour. This movement continues to the bottom with the same wave length but, in conformity with an exponential law, with decreasing amplitude. In shallow waters, the circular paths deform so as to form ellipses, and in those layers which are close to the bottom, the waves become relatively slower and when hitting the bottom, the crests overturn to form breakers.

If it is desired artificially to produce waves of this type, it is necessary to disturb the water surface at a desired area, preferably in the vicinity of the edge of the swimming pool and, more specifically, at the rhythm of the desired wave frequency. The impact of the movement along a circle may be effected in a vertical, inclined, or horizontal movement. It may also be produced by an oscillating flap, an immersed body, a pump, or a propeller.

All of the above-mentioned possibilities have been available of heretofore. Specifically, for swimming pools, wave making machines have proved successful which operate with immersed bodies or oscillating blades. Both systems have their advantages and disadvantages. Immersed plunger installations require considerable space and mass and cause complications as to manufacture and servicing. Oscillating blade wave producing machines cause less difliculties with regard to construction and servicing but have a lower degree of efficiency because the emanation of energy can be exploited toward one side only. In operation, these last-mentioned wave producing machines cause considerable difliculties when it is desired to eliminate the Waves produced behind the blades.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a wave producing machine operating with oscillating blades, which will overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks.

It is another object of this invention to provide a Wave producing machine operating with oscillating blades, which will greatly increase the degree of efficiency of this type of machine.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 respectively illustrate a cross-section through a swimming pool with the oscillating blades occupying different positions, in conformity with the different wave outlines produced thereby; and

FIGS. 4, .5 and 6 respectively illustrate in side view, top view, and end view the arrangement of the oscillating blades and the driving mechanism therefor.

The wave producing machine according to the present invention is characterized primarily in that the oscillating blades known per se end below the water surface and thus permit a superimposing of the waves sent into the pool by the oscillating blades, with the waves produced behind the blades and reflected by the wall of the swimming pool. In order to be able to recover the energy flowing off toward the rear, the present invention provides that behind the oscillating blades there is built up a standing or stationary wave which oscillates with the same frequency. This wave is built up by arranging the center point of the oscillating blade by approximately one-half of the wave length in front of the reflecting pool wall.

In order to make such oscillating wing-equipped wave producing machine particularly safe in operation, the bearings for the oscillating blades are, in conformity with the present invention, arranged outside the water-containing pool, The axes of the oscillating blades are sealed relative to the swimming pool by stuffing-boxes. The thus provided bearing arrangement for the oscillating blades makes it possible to arrange the drive for the oscillating blades adjacent to the latter, and furthermore permits a favorable use of space, particularly in swimming pools in bathhouses without the necessity of providing elevated structures for receiving parts of the wave producing machine.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, FIG. 1 shows the oscillating blade a in a position in which it has moved beyond its vertical position in the direction toward the rear wall b of the swimming pool. The crest of the wave produced behind the oscillating blade has reached the rear wall b of the swimming pool.

According to FIG. 2, the wave has been reflected by the rear wall I) of the pool and now moves toward the oscillating blade :1. With the position of the oscillating blade as shown in FIG. 2, the reflected wave in its mass has reached the oscillating blade and, due to the fact that the oscillating blade ends below the stationary water level d, is able to join the wave produced in front of the oscillating blade.

According to FIG. 3 the wave going downwardly into the pool has been superimposed upon the wave reflected by the wall b and both waves have been joined to form a large wave moving in the direction toward the swim ming pool proper.

FIGS. 4 and 6 show the oscillating blade a which ends below the resting water level d and is journalled in the bearings e located outside of the water-containing pool. The shaft supporting the oscillating blade is sealed relative to the pool by stuffing-boxes f. The driving mechanism g is arranged adjacent the oscillating blades at the level of the bottom of the swimming pool. A manually operable adjusting device h (FIG. 5) makes possible a change in the angle of oscillation of the oscillating blade.

It is, of course, to be understood, that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular construction and arrangement shown in the drawings, but also comprises various modifications, the invention being determined by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a swimming pool having a front wall and a rear wall: fixed oscillating blade means with upper and lower edges both arranged completely below the desired water level when said swimming pool is filled with water to said level and the water is at rest, the pivot axis of said blade means being located fixedly at the lower edge thereof and thus being spaced from said rear wall by approximately one half the wave length of the waves to be produced for substantially resonant operation whereby water above the upper edge can pass unhindered thereabove while the water is additionally accelerated to strengthen waves in deeper water, and actuating means arranged outside said swimming pool and drivingly connected to said blade means for pivoting the same back and forth.

2. An arrangement in combination according to claim 1, which includes bearing means arranged outside said swimming pool and pivotally supporting said resonantly oscillating blade means.

3. An arrangement in combination according to claim 1, in which said actuating means is arranged laterally of said resonantly oscillating blade means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 490,484 1/1893 Mackaye 4172.16 586,983 7/1897 Wharton, Jr. 4-172.16 1,181,406 5/1916 Potter 4172.16 1,536,875 5/1925 Bowen 4172.16X 1,871,215 8/1932 Keller et a1. 4--172.16 2,002,043 5/1935 Price 4-172.16 2,056,855 10/1936 Herz 4172.16

WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 6 l1 

